Google to face lawsuit from Iranian government?

Google could face a lawsuit from the Iranian government for leaving a stretch of water nameless on Google Maps.

Tehran warned the internet giant of possible legal action after it dropped the name of the Persian Gulf on the service, AFP reports.

The Persian Gulf - which runs between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula - has been the subject of heated debate in the Arab world. Some states insist on calling it the Arabian Gulf, while others use its historic name.

"Google's action is part of the plots against our country," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told reporters on Thursday. "If Google does not correct its mistake as soon as possible, we will file an official complaint against Google."

Some Iranians have protested online against Google, claiming that the Gulf's identity is part of Iran's territorial integrity, and to leave it nameless is undermining that.